Thermo-electric apparatus for controlling the temperature of water in pipes



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1..

E. A. NEWMAN. A THEEMO ELEOTRIO APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THETEMPERATURE OF WATER IN PIPES.

A No 383,536. Patented May 2 1888.

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E. A. NEWMAN. THERMO ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATUREOF WATER .IN PIPES.

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THERMO ELEGTRIG APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER INPIPES.

No. 383,536. Patented May 29; 1888.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSh'eet A.

E. A. NEWMAN. THERMO ELECTRIC APPARATUS POE CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATUREOF WATER IN PIPES.

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' pipe provided with an inlet-opening, B, and a 'tions. Fig. 4 is adiagram view of a pipe sys pipe system.

section of pipe witha coil or solenoid around UNITED STATES PATENT()FFICE.

EDWIN A. NEWMAN, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, Assre on TO-THENEWMAN ANTI-FREEZING WATER PIPE COMPANY, or onIoAco, ILLINOIS,

THERMO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER l NPIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,536, dated May 29,1888. Application tiled December 30, i587. Serial No. 259.424. (No modelTo all whom it may. concern:

Be it known that l, EDWIN A. NEWMAN, a citizen'of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new. and useful Improvements in Thermo-Electric Apparatus forControlling the Temperature of Water in Pipes, of which the following isa specification.

The general object of my invention is to pro vide apparatus forcontrolling the temperature of water in pipes.

My special object is to provide improved means for preventing the pipesfrom freezing. To this endv my invention consists in improved apparatusfor heating the pipes at one or more points.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a section of a water-pipe withone form of my improved apparatus applied for heating the pipe. Fig. 2is a section of a pipe, showing a modified form of my improvedapparatus. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of another form ofapparatus, showing modificapipe A and the pipe D. At the top the pipe Dis secured to the top of the pipe A, forming a water-tight joint. Thebottom of thc'pipe D is'prefera-bly enlarged at l) and secured to thepipe A by a screw-threaded connection, as shown. In adownwardly-projecting portion,

', of the pipe A is arranged a gas-burner, I),

which is provided with an automatic electri-,- cal apparatus, E, forturning on and lighting the gas. This apparatus is of well-knownconstruction and needs no specific description, any apparatus for thepurpose being applicable in this connection. The pipe A is perforated ata, as shown, toadmit air to the gasburner. Just overthc perforations andjust under the end of the gas burner is arranged a perforated disk, a.This arrangement admits free access of air to the burner, but preventsgas -flame from escaping through the ventilatinggierforations. Thebottom of the pipe D ispreferably flared, as-show'n, just over thegas-burner, and its top is open. F indicates a battery; Th, athermostat, and a: circuit-wires running from the battery to theelectrical apparatus for turning on and j lighting the gas and throughthe thermostat. The thermostatmay be so adj ustcd as to turn on andlight the gas at any predetermined condition oi"temperahrre-that is, itit is desired to have the apparatus arranged to prevent watcr-pipes fromfreezing, the thermostat may be adjusted to close the circuit atthccontact y, when the thermometer is below the freezing-point. When thecircuit is so made, the gas will be turned on and lighted at the burnerE, and the heated air and-products of combustion will'pass up throughthe pipe D, thereby heating it and the surrounding water in the chamberD. \Vater entering at the opening B will first enter the chamber D, andwill there be heated before it passes into the service-pipes through theopening C; or if the water is stationary in the pipes the watersurrounding. the pipe D will be heated, and will distribute itselfthrough the pipe system, thereby causing a circulation through thepipes, and causing the temperature of the tom, showing another way ofemploying my improved apparatus. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing awater-pipe with a thermal battery arranged to heat the water in a partof the Fig. dis a modification of the same. Fig. 7 shows a furthermodification, in which a thermal battery is employed to heat the waterin the pipe system. Fig. 8 shows a it, connected with a battery andthermostat, for the purpose of heating the pipe. Fig. 9 shows coils ofwire within a pipe connected with an electric circuit for the purpose ofheating the water in the pipe. Fig. 10 shows a section of pipe and anelectric circuit, in which the water in the pipe, or the pipe itself,forms part of the circuit.

Referring to Fig.1, A indicates a section of discharge-opening, The.open'ing B may connect with a water-main and the opening 0 with theservice pipes of a building. Within the pipe A is arranged a tube or,pipe, D, of smaller diameter than the pipe A, so arranged as to form awater-chamberyD', between the water throughout the whole pipe system tobe increased. 1

- "pipe A.

of combustion and the heated air I which is supported in In Fig. 2 Ihave shown a'somewhat similar apparatus. I employ the same form ofelectrica'l apparatus for turning on and lighting the gas; but insteadof having an interior pipe through which.the heat passes, I make theoutside pipe, A, the conduit for the heat, and the water-pipeis'arranged within the with the water-main and the opening 0 with theservice-pipes of a building. Any suitable couplings 01- joints maybeemployed, preferably those indicated in the drawings. The pipe or casingA, near its top, is provided with openings 0, through which the productsmay escape. The air enters at feeds the gas-flame. The heated air andproducts of combustion pass up through the pipe or casing A, around theout through the openinglc. The water in the pipe D will be heated, andwill cause a circulation and distribution of heat in a manner igmiifr tothat described in connection with 1g. as shown in Fig. I, I have shown ahand.- switch, X; but I may employ a thermostat in connection with thisapparatus, or may employ a hand-switch in connection with the apparatusshown in Fig. 1, as may be desired.

In Fig. 3,, F indicates a pipe which may be connected with thewater-main; G, a pipe which may be connected with the servicepipes of abuilding, and Ha box or tank connected at h in any suitable way to thepipe F and at g to the pipe G. The box or tank His preferably arrangedto project at right angles from the pipes F and G, over a gas-burner, I,a bracket, 1'. The gasburner is provided with an electrical apparatusfor automatically turning on and lighting the gas. Th indicates athermostat which is connected with a battery, M B, and circuitthetemperature is low,

ing, which are shown rings the wires a lead from the battery through thethermostat and electrical apparatus to battery again, and acircuit-wire, 12:, leads from'the thermostat to another binding-post ofthe electrical apparatus. -In this instance the thermostat is arrangedto make one circuit when and to make another circuit when it ishigh-that is, suppose the thermostat be arranged to closean-electriccircuit through the gas-lighting apparatus E when thetemperature is low. In the drawgas is shown as lighted, and it thetemperature rises above a predetermined point the contacts at thethermostat will shift and close the circuit through suitableapparatus-for turning ofl the Bgas. The water entering through the pipefills the box or tank'H and the service-pipes through pipe G. The waterin the box His heated by the gas-burner I, and will cause a circulationin the pipes and a distribution of heat that is now well understood.

In Fig. 4, 1 indicates a pipe leading to the watermain, and C theservice-pipes of a build suitably coupled and con- I he entrance B maybe connected a, near the gas-burner, and

water-pipe D, and

Instead of employing the thermostat nected at 0'. In this arrangement itwillbe noticed that water entering from B may pass. up through theupright pipe atv the left of the figure and fill the pipes on the righthand side of the figure and connect again at O. Atsnitable intervals inthe pipe system I have arranged an apparatus for heating the water inthe pipe. At X,Ihaveshown a box or tank, J,si milarto thatshown inFig.3. Ages-pipe, j, having a burner, j, is arranged under the box ortank J onasuitahle bracket, j. The gas-cock j is provided with aspindle, j. which is secured to a thermostat, Th, adapted to make andbreak contact with a contactserew', z. M B indicates a battery, which isconnected with the pipes of the system and by circuit-wirex with thecontact z'ofthe-thermostat, first passing over the gas-burner j, whereit is provided with-a suitable device for igniting the gas.

This apparatus is so arranged that when the temperature falls thethermostat will move so as to withdraw the valve-stem j and turn on thegas, at the same time closing an electric circuit at the contact 1:. Thecircuit will then run from battery M B by circuit-wire :r to contactz,'and from contact 2 to the thermostat, and from thermostat to thepipes (the thermostat being connected to ground or to the pipes.) Thegas will thus be ignited and will heat the water, as before explained.When thetemperatnre rises again, the thermostat will move back, breakthe circuit and shut oh the gas. At K the gas-burner is arranged under asection of pipe, K. The apparntust'or turning on the gas and lightingitis similar to that show-n at X, and needs no further description. Itissimilarly connected with the battery M B. L indicates a water-trapwith a gas-burner arranged under the bend of the trap to heat it andprevent water standing in the trap from freezing. The apparatus forturning on and igniting the gas -is similar to that just explained.' Inthis arrangement a circulation of water may be carried on around thepipesthat is, the heated water may rise from the heated sections, passup into the pipe system, down again through opposite pipes, and thenagain into the heated sections.

:Referring now to Fig. 5, A indicates :1 cas. ing provided with anopening, B, which may be connected with a water-main, and C a pipe whichmay be connected with the service-pipes of a building. The pipe 0 andthe opening B are connected by a tubular passage, D. Around the tubularpassage D, and within the casing A, is arranged a thermal battery of anysuitable kind. The elements of the battery. are suitably insulated fromthe casing, as shown, and aspace, D, surface of the battery and thecasing A. An opening, B, leads to the vacant space D, so that waterpassing through the service-pipes of a building may return again to thecasing A through the opening 13" and 'back again through the tubularpassage D through openings'b. An electric circuit, it, connects with thethermal battery, passing through suitable packing, Z, in the casing A; Athermostat,

Th, is included in the electric circuit, and is arranged to make andbreak contact according to the condition of temperature. it is wellknownthat if a current of electricity be sent through a thermal batteryit will produce heat on one side of the battery and cold on the other.Ihave arranged the battery-so that heat will be produced on the side ofthe battery in proximityto the tubular passage D and cold on the outsidesurface of thebattery. If the circuit is made at the thermostat, thetubular passage 1) will be heated and water passing through said passagewill have heat imparted to it.

In Fig. 6 I have shown athermal battery arranged around the tubularwater-passage D,

thermal battery service-pipes.

the thermal battery being supported between disks M, which are boltedtogether, as shown.

In this instance there is no casing around the outer surface of thethermal battery. An electric circuit, it, including a thermostat,battery MB, is suitably connected with the to produce heat on the innerends of the elements next the tubular passage D. The thermostat is shownas provided-with a contact, 2, consisting of a series ofresistanceblocks, z, over which the contact-finger ofthe thermostatslides. As the thermostat is moved more 01 less, a corresponding amountof current will flow-that is, if the temperature is not very low and thecontact-finger moves onto only one of the resistance blocks, only asmallcurrent will flow,and a corresponding amount of heat produced in-thethermostat; but when it is very several of the rcsistance'bloeks andthrow on a largeamountof current. A thermostat with a sliding contactsimilar to that j ust described may be used in connection with theapparatus shown in other figures ol'tlie drawings.

In Fig. 7,A indicates a casing; B, a connection between the casing andthe water-main;

O, a connection between the casing and the -.\Vilhin the casingisarranged the thermal battery with a water passage or casing around itsexterior surface. A circuit, :1, including a thermostat, T71, andbattery M B, are connected with the thermal battery in any snitablawayto produce cold on the inside of the elements and heat on the-exteriorsurface, so as to heat the water in thespaee between the casing and thebattery.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a pipe with a coil of wire surrounding it.saidwire being-connected with a battery, M B, and a thermostat, Th. Then thecircuit is closed at the thermostat,

a eurrentwill pass through the coil and produce a. heating effect uponthe pipe. In Fig. 9 Ihave shown within thepi'pe heating-coils of wireincluded in an electric circuit. This may be a dynamo-circuit orelectriclight circuit. A thermostat, Th, is included-in the circuit soasto make and break the current according to the variations of Th, and

'inbefore set forth, of a cold the thermostat will move across '1 B,which is provided temperature. When a-strong electric current is madethrough the coils, the waterin the pipes will be hcated. In Fig. 10 Ihave shown a section of pipe and an electric circuihx,

M B, and thermostatTh. The circuit extends into the pipe, and is eitherconnected with the metallic body of the pipe or with the waterin thepipe so as to cause the electric current to flow through the pipe or thewater in the pipe, as indicated by arrows. The effect of thisarrangement is to heat the water, thereby preventing itfrom freezing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent substantially as hereof the United'States,

' 1. The combination,

inbefore set forth, of. a. water-pipe, a source of heatarranged near thepipe, and'nleans'for to the pipe.

2. The combination, substantially as here water pipe, 2. heatgeneratorarranged near the pipe, and a thermostat operatively connected withtheheat-gen' erator, whereby heat ma be. started and applied to the pipewhen the temperature near the thermostat falls. j

3. The combination, substantially as hereiubelore set forth,of awater-pipe, a gasburner arranged in close proximity to the pipe, athermostat for turning-the burner off or on, and devices for lightingthe gas.

4. The combination, substantially as inbefore set forth,of awater-pipe,agas-burner,

a pipe or passage'over the gas-burner through which the heat from theburner passes, elechere- 7 including a battery.

automatically starting and applying the heat trical apparatusfor-turning on the burner and lighting the gas, theclectric circuit.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbeforc set forth, of asection of watenpipe having a'connection with a'water-main and connectedat two points with the service-pipes of a building, a heat generatorarranged in said section of pipe,and devices for automati--callyapplying the heat in the surrounding atmosphere falls.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbel'ore set. forth, ofa'watcr-pipe, a heatgenerator circuit for controlling theheat-generator, a thermostat included in, the-circuit, and a contactoperatively connected with the thermostat to vary the. electric currentproportionately to the variations of the temperature.

-7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of awater-pipe, a. heatgenc rator arranged nearthe water-pipe, apparatus forturning the heat on or off, an elecand a thermostat included in t'riccircuit controlling said apparatus, and a thermostat included in thecircuit for shiftingit so as to turn the heat on or 0E.

-,8. Y The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of awater-pipe, an electric circuit passing in close proximity to the pipe,

arranged near the pipe, an electric v when the temperature and athermostat included in the circuit artubular passage for heat arrangedwithin the ranged to makeand break the circuit accordsection ofwater-pipe and over the gas-burner,

ing to variations in temperature. a perforated disk or partitionarranged just i). The combination, substantially as hereunder thedischarge-opening in the burner, I5 inbefore set forth, of a section ofwater-pipe and air-ports arranged under the disk.

connected with a water-main and the service- In'testimony whereof I havehereuntosubpipes of; a building, a gas-burner arrangedscribed my name.near said pipe, an automatic electrical appa EDVVLN A. NEWMAN.

. ratns for. turning theigas' 011' or on and for' \Vitnesses:

lighting it, an electric circuit including a DUANE E. FOX, thermostatconnected with said apparatus, a V. W. IWIDDLETON.

